THE 1998 ELECTIONS: THE STATES -- THE MAVERICK

THE 1998 ELECTIONS: THE STATES -- THE MAVERICK; A 'Bad Boy' Wrestler's Unscripted Upset

Published: November 5, 1998

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''The Body'' was born James George Janos, still his legal name, but he began to call himself Jesse Ventura at the start of his professional wrestling career in 1975. He saw the name Ventura on a California map and it sounded like it fit the bleached-blond surfer-wrestler image he was cultivating after a stint in the Navy in Vietnam. Under Minnesota law, a candidate may run under the name he commonly uses.

''He wasn't really a very good wrestler, but he had charisma,'' said Dave Meltzer, publisher and editor of the Wrestling Observer newsletter. ''His best move was standing on the apron yelling at the fans while his tag team partner did all the work.''

Mr. Ventura contends that wrestling laid a foundation for his politics by making him comfortable ad-libbing and performing. Others see different advantages.

''The nature of wrestling is that when you make move A and someone blocks move A, you've got to make move B, C or D,'' said Nick Bockwinkle, a four-time heavyweight wrestling champion who lives in Minnesota. ''You've always got to have alternatives. And I think that translates to the political structure as well.''

(Sounds like there could be a future for Mr. Bockwinkle in the Ventura Cabinet.)

In 1986, Mr. Ventura left wrestling and began to get small roles in films like ''Batman and Robin'' and ''Predator,'' with Mr. Schwarzenegger.

He went on to become the Mayor of Brooklyn Park, where he served from 1991 to 1995. He met his wife, Terry, while working as a bouncer in the Rusty Nail Tavern. They have two teen-age children and raise show horses on a ranch outside Minneapolis. Mr. Ventura said he would continue to be the conditioning coach for a high school football team, where one of his mantras is ''What is pain? Pain is good!''

Mr. Ventura's greatest challenge will be to work with the State Legislature, which consists of a Democrat-controlled Senate and, as of Tuesday, for the first time in years, a Republican-led House. But the man who as a candidate once replied to a question about getting along with the legislature by baring his grapefruit-sized bicep, seemed unintimidated by the prospect.

''I've jumped out of an airplane 34 times,'' he said. ''I've dove 212 feet under water. I've done a lot of things that defied death. And this isn't defying death. It's just common sense and hard work.''

Today, Mr. Ventura, who described himself as humbled, ''awestruck'' and punchy from exhaustion, met with Gov. Arne Carlson, whose staff had briefing books ready. Then he did an hour of his radio show -- live from a packed sports bar -- fielding calls from, among others, the owner of the Vikings, Red McCombs, who offered him his pick of seats. ''You can body-slam me on the 50-yard line if you want to,'' Mr. McCombs offered.

Mr. Ventura said he had never even gotten so much as a press pass before. ''You know,'' he said, ''I'm beginning to kind of like this gig.''

Photos: INTO HISTORY -- Jesse Ventura became the first candidate of the Reform Party to win a statewide election. He broadcast his sports talk show from a sports bar yesterday as governor-elect of Minnesota. (Tom Roster for The New York Times)(pg. B10); Jesse (the Body) Ventura, seen stomping one opponent in 1985, defeated two in Minnesota this week. (Tim Peters/World Wrestling Federation)(pg. A1)